Fenner election results will come down to absentee ballots

Fenner elections inspector Sharon Schmit prints out the final vote tally at the Fenner town office, which was also Tuesday's town polling place. The election winners may come down to the absentee ballots, since the town supervisor candidates are separated only by 9 votes, and one of the town board seats is separated by only eight votes.
Photo by Jason Emerson.

continued  “It’s much closer than I would’ve liked to see,” Strack agreed.

Current Fenner Supervisor Russ Carey, who chose not to run for reelection, had no comment on the vote counts, but did say the last election that was this close in town was probably in about 1998.

“It could turn really easily on absentee ballots – it’s that close,” said Rose from his home in Fenner, where he, Snow, Gavula and their supporters awaited the election results. “We’re very excited. It was a good campaign on both sides.”

“I’m really pleased with the turnout,” Gavula said. “For an off-year election … I’m ecstatic. I am a little disappointed we didn’t win. But I’m not ready to say we lost.”

“It’s a little disappointing, but it’s my first shot at politics and all in all we came pretty close,” said Snow. “I’m happy with the numbers, in part, and hopefully [the incumbents] will pay more attention now to questions from those of us in the peanut gallery.”

“Even if we lose we’ve won by the support we received and the momentum we’ve gained for our issues,” Rose said.

Snow, Rose and Gavula ran on a platform focused on banning hydrofracking in Fenner and improving citizen representation and elected official responsiveness on the town board. They received so much support for their outside party bid for office, that all three candidates praised and thanked their supporters. Gavula called the race “a real community effort” of which she is very proud.

All three Fenner Neighbor Party candidates said that no matter the outcome when the absentee ballots are officially counted by the county board of elections on Nov. 12, they will continue to stay involved in Fenner politics as citizens, attend town board meetings and ask questions. “I’m pretty sure [the incumbents] will have to be looking over their shoulders now,” Snow said.

In the uncontested races in Fenner, Town Clerk Joanne Buyea received 400 votes; town Highway Superintendent Frank Hyatt received 387 votes; and Tax Collector Sharon Larkin received 379 votes.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at editor@cazenoviarepublican.com.